DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Author: dgould77

  • Genesis 43:1-34

    But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, ‘Go back and buy us a little more food.’” v1-2
    Jacob and his sons had no relief from the famine. They could not see God’s overall plan of sending them to Egypt’s storehouses. If you are praying for relief from suffering or pressure and God is not bringing it as quickly as you would like, maybe He has something better in store than that immediate request?

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Bible

  • The Amazing Race


    Season Premiere
    Sunday, November 4, 8pm et/pt

    THE AMAZING RACE returns for its 12th season and is bigger than ever. This year the Race spans the globe from Ireland to Croatia and sets new Race Teams on an adventure of a lifetime. Traveling more than 50,000 miles and crossing multiple continents in 28 days, the Teams are in a fierce race to the finish first for a shot at the million dollar prize.

  • Genesis 42:1-38

    “When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why are you standing around looking at one another? I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.’” v1-2
    Sounds like a family reunion! Little did the brothers know that they would be seeing the brother they thought was dead. Joseph could have easily said no to his brothers and sought revenge. Or he could help his brothers and family in their time need. How do you respond to people that have wronged you, but now need help? Do you allow them to suffer, or do you lend a helping hand?

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Bible

  • Need a Laugh

  • You’re Not Deep Enough

    Here is a great article by Perry Noble pastor of NewSpring

    If you are a pastor/church leader then you have probably heard this statement before–and it just bothers you…I will admit it has always fired me up. BECAUSE…when a person makes a statement like this it is not an attack against you, although they mean for it to be, but rather an indication of their own spiritual condition–which would be both lazy and self serving.

    My daughter is three months old…and I am confident that within the next year or so that we will not have to feed her…a part of her growing up and maturing is her being able to feed herself…and if she doesn’t learn to do that then we will have problems.

    Read the rest on his blog here

  • The Potential of Community

    A couple of years ago I had written an article for PDYM Community. Yesterday I got Simply Youth Ministry news letter and found that they have added it to a list of other great articles from other Youth Workers pertaining to student ministry on their website. Here is a clip from the article,

    Last year the PDYM team had a vision to connect youth workers with other like minded youth workers for the sake of developing community. Ultimately for community to happen people have to be willing to connect with each other. There have been several attempts to provide opportunities for this to happen but I want to briefly challenge us to think for a moment what a local pdym community has to offer you and me, our students, and other youth workers.

    A local community is a place where you can connect with others. For many of us, we’ve read the pdym book and maybe even went to a conference, but now, through the local community, we can actually talk face to face with other youth workers who share the same passion and methods for ministry. We can be encouraged and share openly with people who understand the demands that youth workers face . . . what a relief to know that we are not alone!!!

    A local community can be a resource for leadership training. Let’s face it, leadership training can be tuff and expensive! When you connect with a local community you have the opportunity to learn from others and have others learn from you. You have a new resource of potential guest speakers who understands what you are trying to do and who could come and train your leaders. This is a great Resource!!!!

    Click here if you want to read the rest of the article!

  • Late for School


    Have you ever tried to do something and then your wife calls to tell you all the things you forgot? Yeah, that was our morning. As I am driving my son to school this morning I thought we had everything covered and didn’t even have to worry about waking up mom. Was I ever wrong! Half way to school she calls to let me know I forgot a snack, he was supposed to wear his school shirt, and he didn’t have a drink for lunch. Sooo, needless to say we had to turn around and go back home. As I took him in to school 15 minutes late, I heard him tell his teacher, “My dad was running late!” He is three, we didn’t rehearse excuses on the way to school, he came up with this on his own. What do you say to that?

  • Genesis 41:37-57

    “Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, ‘Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.’” v37-40
    Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a man “filled with the spirit of God.” You probably wont get to interpret dreams for a king, but those who know you should be able to see God in you, through your kind words, merciful acts, and wise advidce. Do your relatives, neighbors, and co-workers see you as a person in whom the Spirit of God lives?

    Joseph rose quickly o the top, from prison walls to Pharaoh’s palace. His training for this important position involved being first a slave and then a prisoner. In each situation he learned the importance of serving God and others. Whatever your situation, no matter how undesirable, consider it part of your training program for serving God!

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Genesis 41:1-36

    “Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.’
    ‘It is beyond my power to do this,’ Joseph replied. ‘But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.’” v14-16
    Our most important opportunities may come when we least expect them. Joseph was brought hastily from the dungeon and pushed before Pharaoh. Did he have time to prepare? Yes and no. He had no warning that he would be suddenly pulled from prison and questioned by the king. Yet Joesph was ready for almost anything because of his right relationship with God. It was not Joseph’s knowledge of dreams that helped him interpret their meaning. It was his knowledge of God. Be ready for opportunities by staying close to God. Then, when he calls you to a task, you’ll be ready!

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Genesis 40:1-23

    “‘We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.’
    ‘Interpreting dreams is God’s business,’ Joseph replied. ‘Go ahead and tell me your dreams.’” v8
    When the subject of dreams came up, Joseph focused everyone’s attention on God. Rather than using the situation to make himself look good, he turned it into a powerful witness for the Lord. One secret of effective witnessing is to recognize opportunities to relate God to the other person’s experience. When the opportunity arises, we must have the courage to speak, as Joseph did.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible